Why You Should Get a Stone Massage

Tired and bored by usual massage, or a first timer in massage therapy? Perhaps you should try getting a hot stone Massage.



Usually taking 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours the hot stone massage is one of the most relaxing and beneficial massage therapies around. Heated basaltic rocks, such as Gneiss, that are found in Mountain Rivers so that they are smoothened and flattened by river action are usually used. The rocks are heated in water to an optimal range, and because they are rich in minerals such as iron do not loose heat fast.



When the session begins and as the rocks are heated, the therapist may begin aromatherapy and apply essential oils to the body using his/her hands. The stones are then placed on the bodys chakra (energy) points on the neck, back, along the spine, hands and in between toes to give the most comforting sensation of warmth and relaxation.



The heat from the stones increases circulation by expanding blood and lymphatic vessels. This is especially helpful with those with urinary and toxin ailments as waste products form the bodies tissues will be easily removed with this opening of the body's 'highways'. The heat also expands the muscles in contact. This gives the sensation of utter and immense relaxation.



After the application of the hot stones, the therapist may want to take them off and in the intermitting period continue with a hand massage. Due to the relaxation of the bodys tissues, muscles and vessels, the massage is very intensive and healing. Patients who ordinarily fell that they did not get enough from their usual hand massage will feel the difference here as it feels like a deep tissue massage.



The therapist will also place cool (room temperature) marble stones (chemically composed of carbon salts). These will help the body to contract back to before and squeeze out the wastes into their respective systems for disposal. The sensation of coolness in respect to the previous hot environment further enhances the body's engagement with relaxation and is deeply satisfying.



The therapist will then repeat the application of the hot stones and alternate those with the cool marbles and use the changing period to hand massage your body. This alternation and continuous exchange of hot and cold will not only help the body dissipate the stress built up, it has also been proven to be helpful with the waste systems as toxins will find their way to disposal. (This is why this treatment is not recommended for people with blood clots as they may get dislodged).



The therapist will at the end of the session again give a thorough hand massage to reset your body. He/she will do this while applying essential mineral salts.



The therapist will always handle the stones with his bare hands so burning need not be an issue. However, the patient should speak up if they feel that the stones are too hot. If the patient wants a highly intensive deep tissue massage, the therapist may want to use the hot stones to apply pressure when massaging for the ecstatic effect. This treatment should only be done by professional accredited therapists at established spas.

About the Author

Sara regularly writes for AML Stone Source, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry such products as hot stone massage kit and massage stones, as well as many other many other accessories for hot stone therapy.

The Benefits of Hot Stone Massage

Most of us lead ridiculously crazy lives. We work 60 hour work weeks and then maybe a little over-time on the weekends. Our kids are involved in sports, music, dance, and community projects. Were trying to keep up with our family and the Jones down the street. No wonder stress is a leading cause of death in the western civilized world. There is hope however!



Luckily there are a number of easily accessible ways to find a sweet escape from our hectic, stress filled lives. Some people relax with a round of golf or other physical activity. Other people like to curl up with a good book to unwind, and still others, the most baffling of all, actually find relaxation in doing housework. Most people would agree, however, that a good massage can help melt the stress away, relieve muscle tension, and help you relax.



Literally the hottest trend in massage therapy is hot stone massage, which is also known as hot stone therapy. It is a variation on traditional massage therapy where smooth, flat stones are heated and then strategically placed on pressure points on the body. The use of hot stones their benefits have been around for centuries. Ancient cultures perfected the technique to promote physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. It was believed that the stones could be used to detoxify the body and find harmony and balance. Five hundred years later, hot stone therapy is still used in the same way for the same benefits.



Revive Hot stone massage accelerates the muscle recovery process and restores muscle performance. Hot stone massage is perfect therapy for someone suffering from an injury or inactivity.



Blood Flow Dating back to ancient Egypt, Hot stone massage has been considered one of the best ways to increase blood circulation. Hot stone massage encourages micro blood vessels to dilate leading to increased blood flow, which helps flush accumulated toxins in the system.



Detoxification Just as the name would suggest, those stones are hot. Hot stones make you sweat, and sweating promotes even more detoxification.



Reduce Stress Blame the economy, blame the boss, blame the kids or blame the traffic; the fact is, we are living in some stressful times. The therapy provided by hot stones can help to literally melt away this stress by being placed on certain parts of the body in conjunction with nerves to promote relaxation.



Natural Pain Reliever Hot stone massage gives your body something else to focus on besides pain. It decreases and blocks pain signals to the brain leading to tremendous relief.



Spiritual wellness is another benefit of hot stone massage. As the body relaxes under the warm stones, the mind is calmed at the deepest level, and a sense of well-being comes over you. With positive energy flowing through your body you will enjoy harmony, peace and balance. Dont worry, the everyday stress will still be there, but hot stone massage will help you face it all with a refreshed smile on your face.

About the Author

Sara regularly writes for AML Stone Source, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry such products as hot stone massage kit and massage stones, as well as many other many other accessories for hot stone therapy.

Relax - Its Just a Massage

In its simplest form massage therapy is the manipulation of soft tissue in order to achieve physical, functional, and psychological benefits. The word itself comes from different origins - the French word massage meaning friction of kneading, the Latin massa meaning mass, dough or from the Arabic massa meaning to touch, feel or handle.



Massage has existed in some form or another for centuries with writings about massage being found in ancient civilizations including Greece, China, Rome, Egypt and Turkey. In the United States all different styles of massage therapy became popular in the mid 1800s. Due to medical advancements in the 1930s and 1940s massage fell out of favor, but it found a resurgence in the 1970s as athletes began using massage for rehabilitation purposes. The connection between sports and massage culminated during the 1996 Summer Olympics when massage was offered as a core medical service for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games.



In todays fast paced world there dozens of things that add stress to our lives. Not to mention our crazy busy lifestyles that we lead; with work, family, friends, social obligations and the like crowding every single minute out of our weeks. Luckily, there are almost as many different forms of massage to help reduce that stress. Here are a few of them.



1. Swedish massage This is the most common type massage therapy there is in the United States. This technique uses long, smooth strokes and kneading. Massage oils and lotions are also often used. This is your basic run-of-the-mill massage that is perfect for first timers.



2. Hot Stone Massage The name kind of says it all. The therapist uses heated stones placed strategically on various points of the body to warm and loosen tight muscles. This massage form is becoming more and more popular, and is perfect for those who prefer a lighter massage because of the lack of pressure involved.



3. Aromatherapy Massage This massage technique uses lavender and other essential oils for specific needs. It is a perfect solution for those suffering with a stress related condition as it enhances a persons emotional well-being. With evidence of aromatherapy existing in ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece it is considered an ancient form of healing.



4. Shiatsu This is a Japanese licensed medical therapy that is very popular the world over. It is often referred to as a finger pressure massage. The pressure is firm, but relaxing as it targets the body's acupuncture points.



5. Deep Tissue Massage - This massage form relieves severe tension in muscle and the connective tissue, specifically focusing on the muscles below the surface of the top muscles. Individuals with consistent, chronic pain, athletes and others involved in heavy physical activity, and by those who have sustained an injury often use it.



From ancient beginnings massage really hasnt evolved too much. It is still used to relax, rejuvenate, invigorate and heal. Try one massage technique, or all of them. The only side effect will be a happier you.

About the Author

Sara regularly writes for AML Stone Source, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry such products as hot stone massage kit and massage stones, as well as many other many other accessories for hot stone therapy.

The Hot Stone Massage Experience

Never get enough of your regular massage, then its time to heat it up and get a hot stone massage. A variation on the traditional Swedish massage, the hot stone massage incorporates use of water heated hot stones and room temperature cool marble stones to give an intensive yet deeply satisfying and wholly therapeutic massage.



The hot stones are usually heated in an electric water bath. The stones are basaltic in nature and have a high iron mineral content. This chemical composition enables the stones to reduce the amount of heat energy lost to the environment. The stones are egg sized except they are a generally flat. They are usually obtained from mountainous rivers and streams which over centuries used their erosive power to smoothen them. The stones used are usually obelite and gneiss hence are dark in colour.



After an initial aromatic oil application and mild hand massage all over the body, the masseuse will place the hot stones using his hands (so scolding need not be a worry for the recipient) over the body's energy points. These chakra points, as they are also known are the areas where tension builds up over time in the course of ordinary stressful working lives. The heat expands (relaxes) the patients muscle and deep tissue, as well as the bodys blood and lymphatic system. This quickens the pace of nutrient and oxygen exchange as well as the counter traffic of waste products and toxins.



The therapist may also want to use the stones as an extension of his arms to penetrate deep tissues. This means that he will use the stones to massage your body for a more intensive experience. This is especially helpful for those who do not like the usual hand executed deep tissue massage and prefer more superficial contact while receiving their massage.



Once the stones eventually loose their heat, the therapist will replace these with cooler to the touch marble crystals that are said to rejuvenate and revitalise your energy points. In reality the crystals dissipate the heat energy faster in preparation for the next application of the hot stones. This is a fast-forward button for your body's system as stress will be gotten rid off in half the amount of time it would take a usual massage.



The therapist will continue to interchange the hot stones with the cooler crystals until the end of the session. He may use the intervening periods to manually massage the recipients body for that complete relaxation effect. When the stone and crystal application is done with, the therapist will usually take the opportunity to again apply essential oils to the patient's skin. The after effect on most first timers for a hot stone massage is usually a calmer and highly relaxed individual after all is said and done.



The hot and cold stone massage should not be administered to people who have blood clotting ailments or are pregnant. The stones should never e applied to an open wound or a region of recent fracture/ breakage. This is because the massage has been shown to be highly effective in increasing overall blood and lymphatic system circulation. IT is therefore highly recommended with people with liver or kidney ailments or those with high stress levels.

About the Author

Sara regularly writes for AML Stone Source, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry such products as hot stone massage kit and massage stones, as well as many other many other accessories for hot stone therapy.